Hanover’s Deputy Mayor will be taking a leave of absence to run in the upcoming June provincial election.
In a release, the Town of Hanover says Deputy Mayor Selwyn Hicks will be running as a Liberal candidate for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound in this year’s provincial election beginning on May 1st until June 2nd. The release states that “while there is no legislative requirement that a member of municipal council take a leave of absence or resign their seat while campaigning for a provincial or federal office, Deputy Mayor Hicks has chosen to do so.”
If Hicks is successful in his bid to be an MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, he would be required to resign his seat on Hanover Council.
With this year also being a municipal election year, the release says that “there are specific requirements set out in the Municipal Act respecting a vacancy on council which the Town of Hanover would be required to observe, including the appointment of another individual to council for the remainder of the current council term should that be necessary.”
“I am taking a temporary leave knowing I cannot perform my role as Deputy Mayor to the best of my ability while also directing my energy to an election campaign,” stated Hicks. “I want to thank Councillor Harold Fleet for attending Grey County Council meetings as a voice from Hanover in my absence and the rest of Hanover’s council for their continued support.”
